Switzerland has provided $ 5.35 million to support Ghana’s export capacities in the fruits, cocoa, fish, wood and furniture value-chains.

A statement issued by Swiss Embassy in Accra said the support forms part of United Nations Industrial Development Organisation trade capacity building programme.

The beneficiary organisations include Ghana Standards Authority to increase its capacity in standard development and upgrade its testing laboratories in areas of pesticide residue, mycotoxin, textile and microbiology.

The Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture will also be supported to improve its inspection methods for exported fruits and vegetables and upgrade its seed testing laboratory for the analysis of quality seeds.

Other beneficiaries are Food and Drugs Board and Ghana Export Promotion Authority which has an established national traceability system that ensures that exported horticultural products can always be traced back to the farms.

Mr Andrea Semadeni, Swiss Ambassador said his country is committed to supporting Ghana in efforts to diversify the economy and improve trade and the investment climate.

“The reason for Switzerland continuous support to the capacity building programme is the conviction that embracing a quality driven growth path will allow creating value addition in the country to become a reputable trading partner and by doing so create job opportunities for all,” he said.

The current engagement is a four-year programme which aims at supporting Ghana’s integration into world markets by developing a competitive and sustainable export economy which is compliant with trade related standards.